Biomechanics of orthodontic correction of

dental asymmetries
Edsard van Steenbergen, DDS, MDS" and Ravindra Nanda, BDS, MDS, PhD b

Farmington, Conn.
Correction of dental asymmetries requires special attention in orthodontic treatment. Several types
of asymmetries are described, along with the biomechanics needed for correction. Treatment with
different appliance designs that correct these asymmetries with the lowest level of negative
contribution from side effects will be compared with conventional treatment. (AM J ORTHOD
DENTOFAC ORTHOP 1995;107:618-24.)

A s y m m e t r i e s are commonly observed in

various combinations in orthodontic patients. The
origin of these asymmetries can be skeletal, 15 dental, 6 soft tissue, 7 or a combination of these. 1'2'8'9
Many possible causes for asymmetries have been
reported in the literature, including hemifacial microsomia, 1 hemifacial hypertrophy, 5 juvenile rheu-

From the University of Connecticut.

bHead, Department of Orthodontics.
"Fellow in Orthodontics.
Copyright 1995 by the American Association of Orthodontists.
0889-5406/95/$3.00 + 0 8/1/51160

matoid arthritis, 9 condylar hyperplasia, 2 cleft lip

and cleft palate, 9 holoprosencephaly, 9 neurofibromatosis, 1 mandibular fractures, and drifting and
tipping of teeth. 6
Refined diagnostic tools, such as computerized
tomographic images 3'11'12 and stereo photogrammetry,13 allow three-dimensional analyses of the craniofacial complex. These methods can generate, with
the aid of a computer, a three-dimensional image of
the patient's face. With a coordinate system, the
asymmetries can be quantified. The most important
diagnostic tool, however, remains the clinical examination of the patient. Roentgenograms, such as

Fig. 1. A, 0.017 x 0.025-inch TMA intrusion arch comes from molar auxiliary tube and is tied to one
side of anterior segment (0.018 x 0.025-inch stainless steel) delivering intrusive force on that side.
B, Activated intrusion arch, before ligation on anterior segment. C, Intrusion arch tied in on one side
only.

618

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Volume 107,No. 6

the posteroanterior view and the submental vertex,

also remain important for diagnosis and quantification of asymmetries.
Skeletal asymmetries are preferably treated
with a combination of orthodontics and orthognathic surgery. ~'s Dental and/or small skeletal symmetries are most often treated by orthodontic
therapy. ~ However, minor asymmetries are often
neglected until they become apparent in the finishing stages of treatment. In other instances, an
attempt to correct them with poorly designed appliances often causes more adverse effects than the
asymmetry itself. This has been demonstrated in
several publications by Burstone? 4-21
The purpose of this article is to discuss orthodontic treatment possibilities and their biomechanical rationale for various types of dental asymmetries that are encountered in the orthodontic
practice. Other commonly used orthodontic mechanics and their side effects are also discussed.
The emphasis is on treatment to correct an asymmetry efficiently with minimal or no side effects.

Steenbergen and Nanda

619

CLASSIFICATION
Dental asymmetries in orthodontics can be divided
into four groups:
1. Diverging occlusal planes
2. Asymmetric left to right buccal occlusion,
with or without midline deviation
3. Unilateral crossbite
4. Asymmetric arch form

Treatment of diverging oeclusal planes

Canted anterior occlusal plane (in transverse direction). The conventional treatment for this problem is the

use of vertical interarch elastics to extrude the side of the

occlusal plane that is farthest from the treatment occlusal plane. The vertical elastic exerts an extrusive force
on both the maxillary and mandibular arches. If both
upper and lower occlusal planes are equally diverging
and the treatment plan calls for extrusion, this is a viable
option. However, in the majority of the patients, the
problem is limited to either the upper or lower arch, or
isolated to anterior or posterior segments.
In patients with a canted maxillary anterior occlusal
plane and a deep bite, the cant can be corrected in
combination with overbite correction. TM This can be performed with a one-piece intrusion arch of 0.017
0.025-inch titanium molybolenum alloy (TMA) (Ormco
Corp., Glendora, Calif.), which is tied to that side of the
anterior segment requiring intrusion. The intrusive force
level should be approximately 60 gm for four maxillary
incisors and approximately 50 gm or less for four
mandibular incisors. A diagram of the appliance is
presented in Fig. 1, A. If the canine also requires

Fig. 2. A, Anterior view of separate canine intrusion.

0.018 x 0.025-inch stainless steel arch wire bypasses canine.
0.017 x 0.025-inch TMA cantilever comes from molar auxiliary
tube and is tied underneath canine bracket (point force contact) delivering intrusive force. B, Buccal view of separate
canine intrusion. Ideally wire should not be tied into bracket
slot to deliver force without moments. C, Buccal view of
separate canine intrusion.

intrusion, this is better performed in a separate stage

after the incisor intrusion. A simple cantilever
(0.017 x 0.025-inch TMA) exerting a force of 20 to 25
gm (Fig. 2) can be used. A high-pull headgear, with a
force anterior to the center of resistance of the maxillary
molars, is desirable to counteract the side effects of the
intrusion arch. '5
When there is no deep overbite problem and only
one side requires extrusion, a unilateral cantilever can be

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American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics

June 1995

i
Fig. 3. A, Diagrammatic representation of unilateral extrusion
of canted anterior segment. 0.017 0.025-inch TMA cantilever coming from auxiliary tube of molar is tied to one side of
anterior segment. B, Patient with canted maxillary occlusal
plane. C, Correction of canted occlusal plane with cantilever
hook tied on affected side.

Fig. 4. To upright buccal segment, cantilever with hook can

be used. Side effects are extrusion of buccal segment and
unilateral intrusion of anterior segment.

Fig. 5. A, 0.032 x 0.032-inch TMA lingual arch can be used

to upright buccal segment without vertical side effects. Side
effect of tip-back moment on right side is tip-forward moment
on the left side that will be distributed over large stainless steel
wire segment. B, Occlusal view of buccal wires for mechanics
shown in A. C, Lingual view of tip back activation in lingual
arch.

used to correct the occlusal cant. The cantilever,

0.017 0.025-inch TMA, comes out of the auxiliary tube
of the first molar on the side where the extrusion is to
take place and is hooked around the anterior segment. A
force of approximately 30 gm is sufficient (Fig. 3).
Canted posterior occlusal plane (in anteroposterior direction). A variation of the intrusion arch '4 can also be
used to correct a cant of the posterior occlusal plane in
patients who have a deep overbite. To correct this
problem the magnitude of force is increased to 150 gm
that causes a large tip-back moment on the buccal
segment, thereby, flattening the occlusal plane. This
appliance (Fig. 4) delivers appropriate force to the area
of the arch in need of correction. The side effects are
minimal in contrast to the undesirable side effects when
using interarch elastics for this problem.
Another frequently observed problem is a unilateral

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Steenbergen and Nanda

621

!
Fig. 6. A, Diagram of force system delivered by 0.032 x 0.032-inch TMA transpalatal arch. B, C, and
D, Transpalatal arch should be activated by making gradual bends instead of sharp bends to deliver
desired force system. E through G, Patient with asymmetric buccal occlusion and deep bite. First
stage of treatment was correction of deep overbite by intrusion of maxillary incisors and simultaneous
correction of asymmetric buccal occlusion by tipping maxillary left molar and mandibular right molar
back. H, Anterior view of three-piece intrusion arch. Tip-back moment on the right side will counteract
the tip forward moment from transpalatal arch. Tip-back moment on left side adds to tip-back moment
from transpalatal arch.

cant of the occlusal plane, in which the posterior occlusal

plane on one side is steeper (in anteroposterior direction) than the occlusal plane on the contralateral side.
This can be corrected with the use of a precision palatal
arch in the maxilla and/or a precision lingual arch in the
mandible, ~6''~'~depending on the location of the problem. A lingual arch with a tip-back activation on the
steep side and a tip forward activation on the contralateral side will deliver the desirable moment to correct a
cant of the mandibular occlusal plane. '6 The side effect
of this activation is the mesial tipping of the molar or
buccal segment on the contralateral side. To minimize
this, the unaffected side and the anterior segment are
ligated together as a segment incorporating more teeth
for increased anchorage (Fig. 5).

Treatment of asymmetric left and/or right

buccal occlusion
Clinical example A: differences in left and right molar
axial inclinations. Often left and right molar relationship
is asymmetric, for example, Class I on one side and Class
II on the other. This can be due to differences in axial
inclination of the molars between the left and right sides
and/or upper and lower arch. To correct uniarch molar
asymmetries, a lingual or palatal arch (0.032-inch TMA
or 0.032 0.032-inch TMA) ~6'1~'2activation is made to
deliver a tip forward moment on the Class I side and a
tip-back moment on the Class II side. 1~'17This is a good
example where side effects are useful in the correction of
the problem (Fig. 6).

Clinical example B: differences in left and right molar

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American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics

June 1 9 9 5

~ili~iii[i~ii,}i

"

Fig. 6. Continued. I, Spaces have opened on maxillary left premolar and molar area. d, Space has
opened up between mandibular right first molar and second premolar because of tip-back activation
of lingual arch. To prevent mesial tipping on left side, heavy stainless steel arch wire extends from left
molar to the right second premolar. K and L, Right and left buccal view of the three-piece intrusion
arch. Note symmetric molar occlusion.

Fig. 6. Continued. M through O, After correction of molar asymmetry, teeth are individually tipped
with powerchain. Teeth in buccal segments were rebracketed parallel to occlusal plane. On maxillary
left side, continuation of space closure is required followed by rebracketing of canine. Note symmetric
buccal occlusion and coincident dental midlines. Remainder of Class II malocclusion was then
corrected with headgear mechanics.

rotation. Rotated molars are frequently seen in the maxillary arch. A mesial-in rotation of one molar often
results in an asymmetric molar occlusion. To correct this
problem, a transpalatal arch is used with equal amounts
of antirotation activation. An 0.018 0.025-inch stainless steel wire is tied into all teeth except the rotated
molar 16 (Fig. 7).
Clinical example C: no difference in molar rotation
and~or axial inclination. The right and left molar rela-

tionship can be asymmetric without perverted axial inclinations or rotations. A conventional approach to correct
this problem is to use an asymmetric headgear. 22 This
headgear has the potential to move one molar further
distally than the other molar. However, the transverse
components of the forces exerted by this appliance23 can
cause undesirable side effects. Good patient cooperation
(wearing the headgear) is necessary for this approach to
succeed.

American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics

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"

Steenbergen and N a n d a

623

#
~k

Fig. 7. 0.032-inch round transpalatal arch can be used for

correction of asymmetric rotations. Heavy stainless steel
arch wire is used to prevent side effects on contralateralj side.

When the asymmetry is relatively small (up to about

3.0 ram), it can be corrected by a slight change in the
axial inclinations of the posterior teeth. This can be
accomplished by a transpalatal or lingual arch to tip the
molars, as depicted in Fig. 6, A.

Unilateral dental crossbite

The treatment of a unilateral dental crossbite can be
performed with a lingual arch (0.032 x 0.032-inch TMA)
in the mandible and transpalatal arch (TPA) in the
maxilla. 16'19'2 In the case of a lingually tipped upper
molar, a rigid arch wire is tied to all of the teeth except
the molar in crossbite. Buccal root torque is placed in the
TPA on the side that is not in crossbite. When the TPA
is inserted into the bracket, the horizontal part of the
TPA will be occlusal to the bracket on the crossbite side.
In addition, expansion activation should be built into the
transpalatal arch. When this TPA is engaged, the force
system created causes the desired buccal tipping of the
molar in crossbite. This tipping movement occurs before
translation of the molar on the contralateral side. The
vertical forces, which act to cause intrusive and extrusive
side effects on the two molars, are small and usually are
not expressed because occlusal forces are far larger in
magnitude, albeit, transient duration. After the crossbite
has been corrected, the wire should be removed, made
passive, and reinserted. A diagram of the appliance is
shown in Fig. 8.

Asymmetric arch form

Orthodontists often use an asymmetrically shaped
arch wire or asymmetric interarch elastics to correct an
asymmetric arch form. A more efficient way is to use a
cantilever (0.017 x 0.025-inch TMA) from the first molar, with a hook that is attached in the area where the
arch needs to be expanded or narrowed. The cantilever

Fig. 8. Diagram representing force system needed to correct unilateral dental crossbite. Force system can be delivered
by 0.032 x 0.032-inch TMA transpalatal arch that exerts expansive force on both molars and buccal root torque
on untipped molar. Moment to force ratio on correct side
should be 10 or larger to prevent this side from tipping
buccally.

can be inserted on top of a light arch wire, for example

0.016-inch TMA. A transpalatal or lingual arch connecting the molars should be in place to prevent rotation of
the molar to which the cantilever is attached. A cantilever with a buccal force on the arch wire tends to rotate
the molar mesial in. Conversely, a cantilever with a
lingual force on the arch wire tends to rotate the molar
mesial out.

SUMMARY
T h e m e c h a n i c s d e s c r i b e d h e r e i n a r e n o t all
inclusive for all d e n t a l a s y m m e t r i e s e n c o u n t e r e d in
p r a c t i c e . H o w e v e r , a small v a r i a t i o n in activation,
ligation, size o f t h e a n c h o r units, force a n d m o m e n t
m a g n i t u d e s c a n significantly h e l p in c o r r e c t i n g m o s t
d e n t a l a s y m m e t r i e s . T h e u s e of a s y m m e t r i c interarch elastics for d e n t a l a s y m m e t r i e s is o f t e n n o t
d i s c r i m i n a t o r y a n d c r e a t e s u n d e s i r a b l e side effects.
A j u d i c i o u s use o f b i o m e c h a n i c s with s i m p l e appliances, such as cantilevers a n d lingual a n d p a l a t a l
arches, can deliver o p t i m a l forces to o b t a i n p r e d i c t a b l e t o o t h r e s p o n s e with m i n i m a l side effects.

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Reprint requests to:
Dr. Ravindra Nanda
Department of Orthodontics, L-7063
School of Dental Medicine
University of Connecticut Health Center
Farmington, CT 06030

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